Agriculture and sustainable development in the Ancash region of Peru

The intervention in the Peruvian Andes has the following priorities: having water again in a withered land; recovering cultivation techniques of typical and nourishing products; improving children and mothers’ eating habits; avoiding families’ emigration towards cities.

In collaboration with Junta de Desarrollo Distrital de Pamparomás and the Municipality of Pamparomás in Peru, together with the contribution of Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione L’Albero della Vita launched in 2010 a two-year programme of sustainable development for local populations.

The Pamparomás district is not problem-free:

43% of the population does not have access to drinking water;

in 80% of the households there is no electricity;

61% of the households has no sewerage;

children are undernourished or malnourished and many don’t go to school;

there is a lack of medical services.

An inadequate economic model

There are also problems from an economic point of view: the switch from conventional crops to vegetables such as potatoes, to export to Europe and North America, has dried up soil. The project of Fondazione L’Albero della Vita had the goal of helping 25 communities to recover an agricultural model allowing to produce what they need: a sustainable development benefiting the entire population.

780 families winning the battle against hunger

Thanks to the project of Fondazione L’Albero della Vita, a new alternative and perfectly sustainable development model has been created and spread. This for the district has translated into:

increased income

food security

environmental protection

The project has benefited directly approximately 780 families (5,200 people), but, indirectly, other 3,200 people of the district will also experience its contributions.

An informed and strong community

The current challenge is to make this knowledge even more relevant by moving from the district and reaching a wider territorial level in which to implement it, thanks also to CEI’s funding.

The final objectives are the following:

involving local communities for them to acquire new management skills;

recovering products of the local agricultural tradition;

increasing the cultivatable area by implementing irrigation systems;

improving nutrition;

Training women on proper eating habits in key moments such as pregnancy and child development;

improving general hygiene and health conditions.

How you can help

Support now the Andean communities. Help them feed their children and build a happy future.